The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-12
III EMPHIS APPEAL
SATURDAY, ): FEB. IL, 1887.
GOV. rAyLOR's MESSAGE.


GOV. TAYLOR's MESSAGE.
The hrst message OF Gov. Taylor to
tha L, gisl tnre will be perus d by
every tsouuhlful citizen Of the State
with ssssf .ct'on. There is broad,
reflective and kindly spirit m aniissted
in il thst impsrts very agreeable
idea OF the personal qualities OF it's
author. The want of fairness and
equality ia assessing taxes, the fact
that the Sta,s tax often falls heavier
upon the poor than the rich, consti-
tute 3 crying evil and is a cause Of
much hard feeling among our citi'
sens, for people do not like being
cheated, especially when the poorer
have to be plucked that the richer
may wear zoe feathers. Towards this
evil Gov. Taylor earnestly directs the
attention OF the Legislature, and II
that bsdy desires the appreciation OF
their CONT tuents, 1t will attend to 1t
effectually. The last message the
Legislature received was deficient up
on the subject OF education In the
State. To our qualification we fni
the psesent messsge all that could be
desired upon that point. Ignorance
Ia described as the most fatal foe Of
the Republic and intelligence as the
most trustworthy safeguard, and the
declaration Is made that Tennessee
-"ean no longer afford to remain pas
sivs or Indifferent upon this question:"
for II imposes npon us q duty more
impera I've than all Others" Noble
wordsl may they strike deep into the
Legislators hssrtsand arouse him to
effort so 50 to provide for the little
ones Of the State, that their future
lives msy be uncursed by the blind
ness Of is ersuce. The. plea of pow
erty has BEEN raised as reason why
the young people Of the State have
been, and ara today, neglected to the
extent they are. Az we'll allage q
man's hunger ss q reason for denying
him bread. Where there Is ignoranoe
there is always poverty, and II there
had b, On less ignorance In Tennessee
its revenue lave would not have been
90 III constructed that they violate
justice, oppress the poor, and deprive
tho State VI one. half the revenue 10
which 1t Ia entitled. 1t was moi
knowledge aud intelligence that beg
CARED the State through blum
dering revenue legislation. Wei
says Gov. Taylor that by reforming
the revenue laws We shall have thu
means Of providing amply for the sup
port Of our schools. And this reform
must b. made now, in order that full
provision for present school neceisi
ties may be made now, for as the Gov
ernor well says, the children Of tn
present cannot wait, the days OF re
oeiving education are fast passin
swsy, and how is our State to q jurist
In tho lu urs, II the present generation
grows up in ignorance to make stil
more stupid revenue laws. The met
sage takes in review all the educa
tional institutions Of the Stat, an,
from cur inmost hearts We give II
Ruthor cordial thanks for the nobl
stand he has mad, for the rising ger
Grafton. Its plea for justice to tn,
Peabody fund it would be stigm
upon the Legislature to refuse to CON
ply with. Il we will not fad th
money 10 educate our own children
NJ least lot us not flch from the fund
that should aid to teach children els,
where. The paragraph in which IL
Governor recommends legislation I
protect the virtue OF our womel
deserves profound consideration
iniustiie in this respec! has OK sl'
long enough. II man hesitate not
brand a vi Ia whole future life wit
the stigma Of shame, let the law pr
claim him thu felon he is, and puniI
him accordingly. The words Of d
mssssge upon prisons and convlc '
Ae CAD t. see. The Governor d
iincuy paces before the Legislatu
the OBJ ction the people enteta
towar the leasing system, ard 1t do
credit to his eympAihies that he chi
RcteIis the sending Of children to I
peniteDtiary as a "cruel, shameful a
inhuuan practice" We cougratull
the y ale Of Tennessee upon havi
acquired a Governor whose heart be-
% $50 true 10 humanity, and whose sen
ments show he generosity Of char
Ter manifested in his FIRST legis!at